(Numbers 12:1-16) Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); 2 and they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?” And the Lord heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.) 4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam, “You three come out to the tent of meeting.” So the three of them came out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam. When they had both come forward, 6 He said,
“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision.
I shall speak with him in a dream.
7 “Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household;
8 With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?”
9 So the anger of the Lord burned against them and He departed. 10 But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous. 11 Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned. 12 Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb!” 13 Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “O God, heal her, I pray!” 14 But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp, and afterward she may be received again.” 15 So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again.
16 Afterward, however, the people moved out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision.
I shall speak with him in a dream.
7 “Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household;
8 With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?”
9 So the anger of the Lord burned against them and He departed. 10 But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous. 11 Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned. 12 Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb!” 13 Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “O God, heal her, I pray!” 14 But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp, and afterward she may be received again.” 15 So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again.
16 Afterward, however, the people moved out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION
Our actions influence and affect others, either positively, or negatively. In this case, we can only assume that Miriam perhaps did the brunt of spreading the gossip against Moses, because God allowed Miriam to experience seven days of consequences, even though there was a confession. And while Miriam was quarantined for those seven days, the entire nation had to wait... all because of her actions, and her words. And I'm fairly sure there had to be damage control over what had been said.
Words are more powerful than we realize. And the gossip that Miriam and Aaron were spreading was not only racist (because they were pointing out the fact that Moses had a mixed-marriage), but their words diminished Moses' authority. Questioning someone's God-given authority is to question God. As well, this type of questioning will usually incite people to place more importance on how they feel and think about things.
Humility is not a feeling, but an attitude and a choice. It is about not thinking highly of oneself, and realizing that God is above all. Therefore Moses humbly told the Israelites what God told him directly. This takes courage. It's very rare that telling people the absolute truth is going to score you points with the people. Aaron and Miriam were trying to score points with the people by appealing to their pride.
We need to be careful that we do not judge or look down on other believers. It's easy to start thinking that we've cornered the market on the Holy Spirit. This is when we become prideful and self-righteous. It is tricky sin, because when we believe WE are right, then it's difficult to see that we are wrong.
Since the Day of Pentecost, all believers receive the indwelling Holy Spirit to convict and guide us. We must be careful to humbly listen to what God is saying to us, and know that it aligns with what is said in God's scriptures. God never contradicts Himself. His words are always true. And so, whatever we say and do should never be tearing down, but be building up the kingdom of God, in unity and love, giving all the glory to God.
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